Hey there!
I must apologize with you all. I got sick (not Corona Virus) and was unable to finish this earlier. I am fine now, so no need to worry.
As an apology, I made the chapter about 1k words longer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
On another note: I have changed the rating to M due to very graphic descriptions of violence I incorporated in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own FE3H or any of the characters.
Chapter 10)
Flashback
Byleth had decided that he needed to cool off from the events earlier that day. A cold mountain water shower would help just perfectly. Maybe, just maybe, it would help clear his head. He had come to realize that his actions to Sethet's provocations were maybe too rash.
They were rash. Sothis informed him. Yes. But what would you have me do in that situation? You know I was not thinking on the possible consequences. He was not making excuses. She knew it because he could feel her compassion for him.
Any chance we could use a Divine Pulse to change the outcome? He tried half-heartedly. You know I would have suggested I already. She answered with a sigh. You will be lucky if you do not get fired. She said sternly. I know. Byleth answered.
He had reached the student's showers. Since his quarters were for some reason in direct proximity to the student's, the nearest bathroom was that one. Come to think of it, why did the Church give you those quarters? Did the last Professor also reside in them? Sothis wondered.
He chuckled internally. Is that what you are worried about? He asked. I do not mind. It is better compared to the mercenary times. He said while finding an empty shower in the men's bathroom. How so? Sothis said curious.
Well, if you really need to know… We slept mostly on the dirty ground. Usually, we only had rivers or creeks to wash ourselves. Men and women would wash themselves without any privacy or inhibitions. He explained to her while stepping into one of the closed shower cubicles.
Wait, you mean to tell me that you would undress in front of everyone to wash yourself in a river? Sothis giggled. No wonder you had no problem undressing in front of your princess back in the forest. She said. Byleth stopped what he was doing. Maybe, but the situation was another. He defended himself, but he could not hide the slight blush on his cheeks.
Cold water should help with that. Sothis giggled again. It should be you who should take a cold shower. Byleth mused while washing himself. Huh? Sothis smirked. He ignored it for a moment. Sensing his discomfort, she apparently decided to tease him further. Did you take advantage of your river baths?
Byleth stopped again. I do not see why that is relevant in any way. He answered her in disbelief. You seem bored… He said. Nah. I just love to tease you. She answered waving him off. Please stop. He begged. She laughed and retreated from his mind.
He finished washing himself and proceeded to dry and clothe himself. He walked out of the baths, to find that every student that he passed by was either scared or looked at him with utter caution. He sighed. He knew that the reason was the gossip. He could imagine what the students would have come up with.
Once he returned to his room, he tried to shrug it off but found himself really bothered by it. He tried to focus on the meeting he was supposed to go. He thought that Edelgard would need more time to meet with him like that.
It all seemed all too… convenient. It left an uneasy feeling in his gut.
The tower was just as old as the rest of the monastery, but for some reason it was not as well kept as the rest of it. Behind the tower grew a massive tree, its branches had managed to break the glass of the once elaborate windowpane that adorned the tower. Inside, the steps were uneven, and stone lay loose due to the natural erosion over the last hundreds years. It was the perfect example how nature reclaimed its space over time.
The tower was not lit up, having been unused for a long time. This meant that Byleth had to be very careful climbing up the stairs. He slipped once or twice, but he managed to get to the top on time for his meeting.
The first thing he saw, was the beautiful view from the balcony. The village on the foot of the monastery was lit up and seemed as lively as it was by daylight. The peace the place brought him was incredible. It seemed that the tower just inspired the people who visited it to take a deep breath and enjoy the peace and quiet.
This feeling did not last long tough. He felt a presence looming from the shadows. "Goodnight, Hubert. I should have known that you changed the time of the meeting today." Byleth said out loud. "It seems I am discovered. I suppose that means assassination is out of the question. At least for now." Hubert said calmly.
"Assassination?" Byleth raised his brow curious. "What are you doing here?" He added dismissing the previous comment."Merely keeping an eye on you, for the moment." Hubert answered innocently.
The notion of his student being innocent sent chills down his spine. "Nothing to be concerned over." His student smiled at him. "Unusually watchful—difficult to steal upon in slumber. Perhaps an odorless, tasteless poison..." This statement was made loud enough for the professor to hear. Byleth just raise his eyebrow once more.
"Lady Edelgard certainly took interest in a difficult one this time." Hubert continued as if he had said nothing threatening at all. "Why have you been following me?" Byleth crossed his arms in front of him. "I suppose that question does warrant a response, considering it may mean your life. The answer requires me to explain some of the complex internal politics of the Empire." Hubert approached him slowly. His arms clapped behind his back.
He paused for a minute as if searching or the correct words. "Are you familiar with Volkhard von Arundel?" Byleth shook his head. "Figures… He is Lady Edelgard's uncle. You may also know him as Lord Arundel, the Empire's Regent." He looked at Byleth expectantly. Seeing that the professor stood there stoically, he decided to continue.
"Many years ago, he took Her Majesty and fled to the Kingdom of Faerghus. Then, after a time, he returned to seize power." Hubert continued. "He joined forces with Prime Minister Aegir and my father." Hubert shook his head in disgust."Lord Arundel rendered Emperor Ionius IX...politically impotent. Lady Edelgard is Ionius IX's daughter." He said as if connecting the dots together for him. "I cannot begin to fathom the depth of her sadness at his betrayal." He said looking at the distance.
"I see something of Lord Arundel in you...When I look at you, I feel I can almost see a second self, lurking beneath the surface." Hubert watched him carefully after that statement. He was searching for a reaction from the professor."It is as if you are in constant dialogue with something inside your heart—something with desires very different from your own."
"Does that description feel familiar to you at all?" Hubert asked with a creepy smile. Byleth resisted the urge to look down at his feet. Instead, he forced himself to look at his student square in the eye. "Because to me you seem unpredictable. As though you could turn traitor at any moment." He added as and afterthought.
"No, not familiar at all." Byleth was not lying. Sothis and himself were mostly on the same page. It was not as if Sothis would impose him with her own ideas. It was clearly not the answer that Hubert had expected. "The more I learn about you, the less I like." He said with a sneer.
"I had thought you might be of some use to Lady Edelgard. But now I am beginning to think you may, through no fault of your own, present too great a risk." He said already leaving the tower. "How so?" Byleth asked him not expecting an answer.
"I am not the only one that has noticed Her Majesty's… infatuation towards you." Hubert said looking back. "There are more powerful enemies hidden in the shadows, enemies that had already put a price on your head." He left without saying anything else. The last statement was a punch to Byleth's gut.
Am I endangering myself? Or what is worse, am I endangering her?
This is no time to be remembering that! Sothis practically shouted in his ear. Focus, please. She said exasperated. Sorry. He told her. He tried to focus but images of that day just kept appearing in his mind. He shook his head to direct his attention on the tunnel ahead.
It took them deep underground. The decline was not steep, but it was noticeable. The walls were built like the rest of the monastery. Bricks made of solid rock but without maintenance, they had eroded and some of them had fallen out.
Byleth could even distinguish some thin roots of plants coming out of the slits between the rocks. It made him wonder what kind of plants could grow roots so deep underground. Or maybe, we are not so deep under as we thought, and all this is an illusion. Sothis offered.
Could be. I was thinking, what if this was forgotten escape way out of the monastery. He mentioned. We would still have the feeling of going deep underground while staying high enough for roots to grow. She agreed with him.
"Professor, I want to be asking you a question." Petra asked in a hushed tone walking beside him. "Your questions are always welcome." He answered matching her tone. "You have my gratitude." She nodded. "Why have you trusted me the leader role?"
"I am surprised by your question. You have worked hard. I did not miss that." Byleth answered. "I see. My hard work has prevailed." She smiled at him. For a second he looked at her. She had a proud expression planted on her face. Byleth could not help but to smile himself.
A second later a metallic sound clanked ahead. Byleth readied himself sword already in hand. He motioned his students to be ready. Many of them were already holding weapons in their hands. They all advanced as quietly they could.
The mood was tense. They all were focused on the tunnel which slowly got wider and wider. It now had enough space to fit four persons beside each other and still have place to move comfortably. They could literally see the end of the tunnel. The room beyond was lit.
Byleth stopped to put out the torch. He placed it against the wall, they might need it later. "Be ready and step carefully." He ordered his students while stepping forward. He approached the entrance carefully. There were stairs leading down to a massive chamber. It was divided with walls high enough for a person no to be able to climb it, but hey were not covered with a ceiling.
Like in the mausoleum, Byleth noted that there were contraptions of some kind on the ground. But these looked different. He also saw that there was at least one healing floor and some levers of some kind. He wondered what this chamber was built for.
"I would have never imagined…" Hubert mused beside him. "Hm… I think I see someone." He said pointing at the middle of the chamber. Byleth was not sure, but he thought that Hubert looked genuinely surprised. "Is it Flayn?" The professor asked him trying to find what his student was looking at.
"Yes. And there is someone else." He said squinting his eyes. He tried to mask a gasp. "It appears to be another student." Byleth had finally found what his student pointed out. It difficult to distinguish at first glance. Either your student is very observant, or he knew where to look. Sothis said critically.
Byleth hummed in response. "Someone is coming from farther in!" Caspar exclaimed loudly. There goes our cover… Sothis sighed. True enough Byleth could hear a sound of metallic steps approaching. He knew who it was before his student continued. "I recognize that scythe and mask… It is that jerk we fought at the Holy Mausoleum!"
"Hush, you oaf." Dorothea prompted him. "Besides, YOU did not fight him." She added as an afterthought. Byleth shook his head looking at the Death Knight approaching the chamber in the middle. "Can I go home now?" Bernadetta whimpered behind them.
"You are being ridiculous." Felix answered. "Such worthy foes don't come often your way and you want to go home?" Bernadetta whimpered again. "Oh, Bernie, now you have done it. He is going to kill you."
"Quietness is key!" Petra said raising her voice a bit, defeating her own purpose. But it did quiet down any conversation that was developing. "Focus." Byleth added. It seemed that the Death Knight had already spotted them as he looked directly at them.
"That sword. You must be…" The Death Knight responded with his eerie, distorted, and deep metallic voice. Its horned metallic mask reflected the light in a way that it seemed to be on flames. It only accentuated his glowing red eyes.
"We have a job to do." He continued addressing the dark clothed soldiers and mages around him. "Close the gates." He continued giving orders. "You there! Hold them off as long as you can." He continued. "Extract the material and do it fast." He concluded. He said it so casually, it made Byleth's skin bump.
There was a buzz of movement as archers, mages and men-at-arms spread out to defend the chamber. "Damn it." Byleth said hurrying down the stairs, his students following suit. By the time they were down, the gates had closed, and the Death Knight's troops positioned.
He was thinking fast to come up with a strategy. "Alright Eagles." Felix scoffed as he was technically not an Eagle yet. "We will have to fight our way in." He said cmommandingly. "We will march forward, stay close." He finished but before he could move, Lindhardt spoke up. "Why don't we use the wrap floors? It may take us farther in than we think." He looked alert. "Not a bad idea, Professor." Hubert said looking at the closest one.
Byleth wished that Edelgard was here. He wanted to convene with her if it was a good course of action. But since she was taking care of Manuela and her loyal servant, who may or may not know the layout of this chamber, had suggested it he considered it.
Sothis, could you accompany the students that take the other path? Be my eyes and ears? He asked her before he would give his final decision. It can be done, but it may cut a few Divine Pulses short. She said considering. How many would we have left? He asked. Three at a maximum.
It is a risk. But it must be enough. He nodded. "Petra, you will lead the squad that goes that way." He pointed to the teleportation floor. "Ferdinand, Felix, Dorothea and Lysithea will accompany you." He looked at Petra. "Do you have a bow and arrows?" He asked her.
"Yes, I am always ready for hunting." She smiled at him pulling a bow out of her metal armor. It was wooden and had unintelligible markings and symbols carved on it. At the end of it, there was a string attached. The color of it matched the markings on his student´s face.
"Good." He nodded at her. "Then go. And be careful. If you find any trouble you come back, understood?" He looked at them sternly. "I have understanding, Professor." Petra said moving forward and disappearing once she triggered the tile. Sothis. He said urgently. On it. She had already manifested herself beside him and was ascending to the roof to have a better view of the chamber. "The rest of you, follow my lead." He said moving to the other direction.
The sensation of Sothis' energy leaving his body was strange. Never had they attempted a stunt like this. Found them. She informed him. They only jumped to the other side of the wall. There only one lone axe soldier with heavy armor waiting for them.
Do I need to worry? He asked. There were six foes in front of his troop. He could not see what weapons they had, but he guessed that at least two of them had bows. There was a flash of red and orange light coming from behind him. No. The young white-haired one has taken care of him rather quickly. Sothis informed him.
Byleth stepped in front of his group putting himself in range as bait for the archers. His students took position behind him. Just as Byleth had foreseen, the archers engaged him, trying to stop him from advancing further. He deflected an arrow with his sword and dodged the others. Three archers. Sothis informed him.
He continued dodging arrows, giving Hubert, Caspar, and Dorothea a chance to spot the foes and take them out. Hubert, being their group's best mage took the archer furthest away from them out. Dorothea defeated the one in the middle leaving Caspar fight with the nearest one with his axe.
It took him a minute, as he had to dodge a few arrows shot his way, but he managed to prevail unharmed. Byleth had moved forward and engaged a foe holding a spear. He was not very practiced with it and made quick work of him. The two remaining enemies retreated to guard the closed gate.
There is an archer on the other side of the wall that is aiming at your students. Sothis informed him. How is he able to see them? He asked alarmed. The wall appears to have some sort of window in it. She informed. The archer has made a misstep making a lot of sound. The foreign one has heard him and advised her comrades to be ready. Byleth sighed relieved. They are going to be fine. Sothis told him.
They are now teleporting through their second floor. She informed searching where they had arrived. Well, the archer had no chance against them. She said dismissively. Nothing to worry about. They have looted a key that should open the gate before them. On the other side of it there is another archer, unaware of his soon demise. No more foes after that. She said almost bored.
Byleth was now focusing on the remaining two opponents in front of them. A spearman and a swordsman. He gave Bernadetta and Hubert a sign to engage each one of them to give Caspar and himself enough time to finish them off.
Just as the arrow and spell were fired both ran at full speed to reach their opponents. With a quick wrist flick the sword of the creator turned to a whip. Byleth used his momentum to crash down the full force of the sword down to the poor spearman that was distracted by Hubert's spell.
Caspar had also defeated his foe with ease. Bernadetta had managed to land an arrow on his leg rending the swordsman unable to fight. "These are not trained soldiers. How disappointing." Hubert said searching for a key to open the gate. "It is strange. Just like the incident in the Mausoleum." Lindhardt agreed with him.
"Found a key." Caspar said loudly. "You should learn how to be quiet. How bothersome." Lindhardt pointed out. Caspar ignored the comment and went to see if the key would fit the door. Once he turned it, it made a metallic clank and opened by itself.
They were met by a shower of arrows and spells. Byleth ducked avoiding some of the spells but he felt an arrow embed itself on his right tight. He looked around Caspar was lying on the floor crying in pain as a fire spell had hit him square on his metal chest-plate. The plate was red-hot.
Hubert had managed to avoid serious damage but was cornered on the side of the door unable to counterattack. Lindhardt was trying to get to Caspar but their enemies had not ceased fire yet. Byleth could not see Bernadetta anywhere.
Damn it! Sothis! I need to use a Divine Pulse! He said urgently in his mind. So, I see, get ready. Byleth nodded wishing she would hurry. A second later he felt the familiar feeling of being pulled backwards. He felt his limbs retrace his previous movements this time backwards. He felt the arrow in his tight detach itself from him and his wound heal immediately.
Byleth could see Caspar going upwards and the spell reversed form his chest-plate. He saw that Bernadetta had achieved great speed and was now coming out of her hiding place behind a column. And he saw Hubert and Lindhardt jumping backwards from their attempt to save themselves.
It is all very comical to see. Sothis said amused. Very unnatural. She added. I hope you are enjoying the show. Take us back just before Caspar found the key, please. He said smiling at her amusement. Alright, be ready. She complied. Time stopped for a second. He was standing in the middle of the room, Caspar and Hubert were looting their fallen enemies.
As time resumed, there was a little aftermath to the Divine Pulse. Caspar rubbed his chest absentmindedly, Hubert dusted himself off for no apparent reason, Lindhardt's eyes were now alert and Bernadetta took a step towards the column she had fled to.
Curious. He mused. Indeed. Sothis said. How many do we have left? He asked his companion. Being your eyes and ears is taking a lot of energy. I am already feeling sleepy. She said trying to suppress a yawn. One for sure, two if you hurry and reunite with this group.
"Found a key." Caspar said loudly. "You should learn how to be quiet. How bothersome." Lindhardt pointed out. Caspar ignored the comment but before he could reach his destination Byleth stepped in. "We do not know what is behind this door." He said holding Caspar's wrist.
"Better be ready. Hubert and Bernadetta, please take place behind those columns. Snipe anyone who comes near that door. If you could give me a count of enemies, I would be grateful." He motioned the two columns he meant.
There are two mages and three archers. One axeman and one spearman. Sothis helped him out. Thanks, Sothis. "Caspar you take the left side of the door, I will take the right one. Be silent." He warned the student. "Lindhardt, stay close to Caspar. If you need to, switch to offensive mode."
Byleth placed the key inside the lock and once his students were in position, he turned it hurrying out of the rain of arrows and spells that were fired. Byleth noted that the mages who fired at them were either very new to their trade, or they were far away from the gate, because the spells did not even reach the columns where his students were counterattacking.
The professor watched as Bernadetta and Hubert released their own storm of spells and arrows at the enemy. It did the trick because a few moments later they stopped. Hubert motioned that on his side there were two foes, while Bernadetta only held up one finger. "Smoke." He told Hubert who nodded and fired a very powerful fire spell to an unknown source of burning material.
The gate was in no time covered with thick black smoke. It reeked of burned meat. Byleth realized that the burning material was the corpse of at least one fallen enemy. His stomach churned but he nodded to Caspar and moved as quickly as they could through the gate. They ran again at full speed and ambushed in the cover of the smoke at least one enemy each.
Lindhardt was not far behind them firing spells at approaching enemies. His face looked green. Hubert seemed unfazed by the stench as he moved forward also firing spells. Poor Bernadetta followed suit but at the sight of the burning corpse and the foul odor, she could not keep the contents of her stomach to herself.
Byleth opted to look away and search for an enemy to fight with. He found one. It was the axeman. The sight of the emotionless faced man coming out of the smoke, a red glowing sword in his hand impressed the man so much, that his previously disgusted greenish face was completely drained of color.
The terrified man still tried bravely to fight him, but he soon lost. "D-De-mon…" was the last thing he ever said again. That word helped Byleth to realize how terrified the foe must have been but there was not time to ponder on it, he was on a mission. He heard a sound on his left. He moved quickly, turning his body.
A blade passed by harmlessly. "That was your only chance." Byleth told his attacker. Using the momentum of his own dodge, he planted his feet firm on the ground and thrusted his sword diagonally into the enemy's chest. He took a step forward and edged his sword downwards to get his sword free, using gravity to his advantage to save his energy.
This group has found a lever. They are about to pull it to see what it does. Sothis informed them. How are they doing? He asked while surveying his side of the battlefield. He could not see any more enemies. Lindhardt was in front of the now charred corpse and using a ward spell to stop the smoke from spreading.
They are fine. The foreign one is sniping enemies from her side of the wall. It is amazing to watch. Sothis was truly amazed at Petra's abilities. If it does not work out with your princess, you could always try with this one. Sothis mused. Focus, please. Byleth begged her. The statement made him very uncomfortable.
Alright, alright. The orange-head and the new guy used their force to pull the lever. It seems heavy so now they are reaching the end of it. She informed him. Just a second later, a teleportation floor lit up.
"Hey! Found another key!" Caspar yelled. Just like before, he went to the closed gate and opened it. As luck would have it, there was a single axeman guarding that part of the chamber. Caspar and Hubert took care of him and came back quickly.
"That wrap floor just lit up." The professor informed his students. "I will go in first, wait for a bit before entering yourself." Byleth commanded. He stepped forward into the tile. The feeling of teleporting away was disconcerting. As is every cell of his body had separated for a second just to be assembled on another room.
"Ugh." Was all he could say before he had to use his sword to deflect a blade aimed at his neck. He heard a gasp. "I am sorrow… no, I am sorry, Professor." Petra said lowering her sword. "It is alright, Petra."
Byleth moved forward and inspected the room. In that moment he felt Sothis' energy return to him. It caught him by surprise. He stumbled to the side. "Do you have injury, Professor?!" Petra asked him alarmed.
"No. Teleportation did not agree with me." He waved her off. "Where are the others?" He asked her. "Lysithea is being guard to the entrance we were coming from, Felix, Dorothea and Ferdinand are trying the wrap floors over there." She said pointing the barely visible floors on the far end of the room. "They were wanting to see what path would be leading us to the Death Knight."
Byleth could see the logic of it all, and Sothis would have warned him if his students were in danger, but the course of action was incredibly stupid. "You should have waited for reinforcements." He said sternly. "They could have walked right into a trap." He said to her.
"I am agreeing with you, Professor. But the faster we are scouting, the faster we are saving Flayn." She defended her point. "On the side… No, besides. Felix, Dorothea and Ferdinand agreed to return if they were being ambushed."
There was a flash of light behind him. One by one his students entered the room. First came Bernadetta, then Lindhardt then Hubert and last to arrive was Caspar. "What a remarkable experience that was." Lindhardt said enthusiastically.
"Then you are not in agreeing with the Professor." Petra answered cheerfully. "Showing weakness, Professor?" Hubert sneered. "How unusual of you." He said before Byleth had time to answer.
How rude of him. Sothis huffed indignantly. "Hmm." Byleth answered both. "Caspar, would you please use that wrap floor to go search your classmate?" He said pointing to one of the floors that Petra had mentioned. "Petra, you will take the other one. Find your classmates and bring them back."
Caspar and Petra nodded and set off to the wrap floors. Just as they were about to step in, there was a flash of light and one of the missing students appeared before them. Byleth sighed relieved. "Professor, you have arrived!" Dorothea clapped her hands in front of her.
"I found this ring, I do not have use for it, so here." She said approaching him. She gave him an old looking ring while winking at him. "That is a March ring. Those are incredibly rare." Lindhardt said eyeing the ring in his hand. Byleth pocketed it ignoring the comment.
"Alright, one here. Two are still missing." He said sighing. "Petra, Caspar. Take the two remaining wrap floors to see where your missing peers are at." He continued talking. Caspar moved first taking the closest of them and disappearing a second later. Petra followed suit using the other one.
"There are two remaining wrap floors to be tested." Byleth said to his students. "Shouldn't we wait until the others get back?" Bernadetta said shakily. "I wish we could, Bernadetta." The young professor said as gentle as he could. His student still flinched at the mention of her name.
"I volunteer!" Lysithea said from behind him. He turned around and nodded at her. "I need someone to accompany you." He said to her. "I'll go." Hubert said darkly. "Alright. You will take this wrap floor on the right. If you find trouble, then return immediately." Byleth said sternly.
While the female student nodded, the male one just sneered. He moved towards the floor, almost shoving Lysithea aside to step in first. This of course infuriated the young girl who stepped angrily into the wrap floor behind him.
Oh boy… He mused in his head. A flash of light caught his attention. Petra and Ferdinand were back. "Professor. It is my noble duty to hand this over to to you." Ferdinand said once he handed the looted Levin Sword to his professor. "I was told that you were not too happy about our course of action?" He asked. "I do apologize, it was my idea."
"Do not push it, Ferdinand." Byleth said pinching his nose. "We will talk about this later." Soon after there was another flash of light. Felix appeared looking angry. There was another flash of light signaling Caspar's arrival. "I did not need back up." Felix said nonchalantly. "But you needed help. That lever was heavy." Caspar grinned at him foolishly.
"Settle down." Byleth raised his voice. "Felix, if you are going to be on the Black Eagles after this mission, then you will have to learn that we are a unit." He said sternly, his patience was wearing thin again. "We do not go solo, trying to be the hero of the story." He took a few steps towards the Lion.
The student took two involuntary steps back. Realizing his mistake, he took two steps forwards again. But Byleth had already moved on. "I will step into this wrap floor. I need a volunteer to come with me." He said looking at his students. Ferdinand's spear shot up first, followed by Caspar's axe and Petra's sword.
"Ferdinand." Byleth nodded to him, earning a whine from Caspar. "Petra, I need you to wait for Hubert and Lysithea." He ordered. "Caspar will wait with you." He ordered. "Depending on what they found out, you will start sending back-up to the correct wrap floor." He concluded his orders. "I have understanding, Professor."
Byleth nodded once more before stepping into the wrap floor. Once he materialized on the other side, he stepped forward, weapon in hand. A flash of light behind him signaled him that Ferdinand was close behind. They did not have much time to regroup. The enemy had been waiting for them.
Byleth avoided an attack from a heavy armored axeman. The man was slow due to his armor and Byleth intended to use it to the best of his ability. He positioned himself close to his foe, letting it appear that he had misstepped. Sure, enough the axe man raised his weapon high above his head.
That move was the man's demise. Without any hesitation, Byleth used his speed to thrust his sword with both hands as hard as he could into the man's armpit, where the armor did not protect his body. His sword pierced effortlessly into the man's heart. The downside to that strategy, was that blood splashed all over himself and that the axeman managed to connect his heavy armored elbow to his left shoulder, leaving it tingling and limp.
Byleth stepped aside, releasing his sword from the man's body, and barely blocking an attack directed to his student's back. He managed to deflect the spear with a mighty slash towards one of the enemy's comrades. The spearman looked surprised and did not retract his spear on time, striking his ally in the chest. The attack killed the other man almost instantly.
While the spearman stared at his fallen comrade incredulously, Byleth had stepped in to end his existence. He glanced at where Ferdinand was. The young man was in trouble. He was fighting three different enemies at the same time.
The professor tried to get closer and help him. But he was under a bombardment of arrows coming from two different archers. He deflected an arrow with his sword aimed to his right shoulder and avoided another by stepping aside.
"Ferdinand! We need to pull back!" He shouted while running to his student, mindful of the torrent of arrows flying his way. Byleth grabbed one unaware swordsman by the shoulder and pulling him backwards to shield the arrows shot at the professor. It gave him the opening he needed to reunite with his student.
Back-to-back, they tried to retreat, but the enemies were many and had surrounded them. As best as they could, they defended themselves and each other. Byleth thought of using his sword as whip, but it could mean that his student might get caught in the middle of the attack. And it would render him defenseless for a little while. Damn it. Byleth thought.
Just as a heavy armored axeman was about to break Ferdinand's spear, an arrow embedded itself on its wooden handle, effectively deflecting the blow to the ground. Byleth used the distraction of the axeman, who was bent down, to bring his own sword down his neck, separating the head from the rest of its body.
He spun around low and assessed the situation for a second. Back up had arrived. Bernadetta was firing arrows very accurately, either distracting their enemies or killing them.
Hubert and Lysithea were sending spells with splash damage to disperse the enemies surrounding Ferdinand and himself. Felix, Caspar, and Petra were already at their sides helping them deal with the enemies. Lindhardt and Dorothea stayed a little behind to assist with any injuries that might happen.
Good! They did listen to you during your classes. Sothis said proudly. Yeah, they did. Byleth smiled while facing a mage. The sight of a bloody emotionless man, smiling at him, a red glowing sword in hand was too much for the mage to handle. He flinched and could not release the spell he had prepared.
Byleth looked around after finishing off the poor terrified mage, searching for another foe. He found that his students had routed almost all enemies in the room. He decided to approach his healers. "Are you injured, Professor?" Dorothea asked alarmed looking at the blood on his face and armor.
"This blood is not mine." He simply said. "But I need assistance with my left shoulder." Dorothea nodded while raising her hand to his shoulder. "What happened?" She asked. He felt a warm sensation on his shoulder. "We were ambushed. They were waiting for us."
"Professor! I found a key!" Caspar was grinning like a fool. "Is the room secure?" He called back. "It is." Felix said. "Wait until we have regrouped, Caspar!" Byleth shouted. Dorothea patted his shoulder. "Should be fine now." She said smiling at him. The professor tested it with circular motions. "Thanks." He nodded at her in approval.
Byleth quickly surveyed the room they were at. The columns in this room were partially fallen, blocking the way on one side of the room. Their only choice was to be careful and try to use the ranged abilities they had to their disposal wisely.
There was not much room to cook up a proper plan, so he decided that the best course of action was to meet them head on. "Alright. Can anyone tell me what our options are?" He asked. Do you need to waste time with this? Sothis said irritated. Yes, they must learn. He answered her.
His students gathered around him. "There are no options." Ferdinand said. "We need to meet them head on." He continued seeing that Byleth nodded at his answer. "It is my noble duty to be on the first line of attack." He said earning a sigh from Dorothea.
"He is right." Byleth defended him. "We will have to split into two groups. Long range and weapons." He drew two lines on the dirty ground with his gloved hand. "Our duty is to penetrate their defenses, while your orders are to distract them or kill them with your spells and arrows."
He looked at each of the long-ranged students slowly in the eyes. "That gate is not wide enough, so your window of attack will be very small. Once we are all inside, close in and try to enter the room. Unleash whatever spell you like, if it does not hurt us or Flayn and the other student. Direct them mostly to the Death Knight."
Byleth then turned to the weapon bearers. "This will be dangerous. We are up against an enemy that is very powerful. I will go in first, and I will engage him first. Am I understood?" He said sternly and although his students seemed not happy, they all nodded. "Mission number one is to take Flayn and the other student out of there unharmed. I will try to give you as much time as I can."
"Only when the student and Flayn are out of there, you may join the fight against the Death Knight. Be mindful, his blade might be still poisoned. Remember it almost killed Edelgard the last time we met him in battle." He warned them.
"Alright, take positions." He said finally. "Caspar, hand me the key." He ordered his student. He approached the gate. It was small, they would have to enter it one by one. Hopefully this works. Sothis said to him alertly. I hope so too. Have one the Divine Pulse ready. He told her. It will be the last one... She told him. Then let's hope we do not need it. He grimaced.
Once he turned the key, the gate started opening slowly. Byleth moved to let it open as wide as it could get. Once completely open he moved to enter. His long-ranged students were already sending projectiles into the chamber passing him by over his head.
Their target was the figure in the middle. But none of the projectiles hit their mark. The Death Knight was surrounded by some sort of shield. Like a ward spell with the difference that it glowed red upon impact.
The Death Knight descended from his horse once he saw Byleth approaching. "One of us will die, the other will live. I will enjoy this dance of damnation." He clapped his hands and expanded his arms wide. The shield that once protected him expanded and surrounded them both. Byleth was about to touch the shield but the Knight stopped him.
"I would not do that. This shield will electrocute anything it touches, and I want to fight you to death." He had taken a fighting stance with his sickle. Without waiting he charged. "Haaa!" Byleth had barely time to jump up and avoid the low attack sent his way.
The professor tried to bring his sword down to his mighty foe, but found it blocked by the handle of the sickle. He recovered fast by stepping his foot into the Knights shoulder and backflipping out of range.
Or so he thought. The Death Knight had anticipated the move and was sending an attack after him. Instead of landing on his feet, Byleth opted to slide as low as he could to avoid the poisonous sickle. Once he stopped sliding, his feet almost touched the shield.
Byleth needed to recover fast and stand to his feet. He avoided a few blows by rolling on the dirty floor. "How disappointing. I thought that you would give me a challenge. Instead, you are nothing but a fly." The Death Knight shouted.
Byleth cursed himself. He got to his feet while avoiding yet another close call. He decided that he needed to go into the offensive, so as he parried another relentless blow from the sickle, spun around using the same momentum of the parry. He used his sword to attack his enemy's wrist.
Under normal circumstances, he would have cut the hand off, but these were not normal circumstances, and he was not facing a normal enemy. His sword did connect with his opponent's wrist with enough force for him to lose all strength of that hand and release the sickle.
Byleth did not pause. He kicked the sickle out of reach. Now I have a chance. Byleth thought while attacking just as relentlessly as the Knight had just a few moments ago. His foe scrambled to parry with his armor and dodge. He managed to connect a kick to Byleth's chest sending him stumbling backwards.
This gave the Knight enough space to take out the sword at his hip. "This has finally gotten interesting." The Knight laughed maniacally. He charged at Byleth, who did his best to dodge, parry, and counterattack.
For what seemed like ages, none of them managed to win the upper hand. After a while, their movements diminished in intensity and speed. Both men were breathing heavily. Byleth looking for a way to finally finish this fight. There was only one way.
At the next blow from the enemy, he deliberately was one second behind to fully dodge the attack. He felt the pain as the sword embedded itself on his left side piecing skin and muscle. He swallowed the pain and grabbed the enemy's arm with his. With all the force he could muster he spun around using his foot to throw the Knight off balance and on his back.
He then used the force of the momentum to twist his arm. There was a satisfactory cracking sound and a muffled scream from the enemy. A second later there was a heavy 'clank' beside him.
But the Death Knight was not done yet. He had taken out a dagger from his chest with his injured wrist and thrusted it into Byleth's right side. Blyleth stumbled to the floor. Both men tried to get up as fast as they could. None of them wanting to give up the fight.
There was a flash of light. A figure appeared between them. It had a white and red mask that appeared to be adorned with feathers. It wore a dark robe, but Byleth distinguished a sliver plated armor underneath it. "Halt. You're having a bit too much fun." He said said.
His voice was just as distorted, like the Death Knight's. "You are getting in the way of my game." The Death Knight said angrily. "Hmph. You'll have more opportunities to play soon. Your work here is done." The figure said commandingly. The Death Knight trembled defeated. "Understood. I will go..." With that he disappeared with a flash of light.
"Who are you?!" The professor demanded. "I am the Flame Emperor... It is I who will reforge the world." Byleth froze. His whole body flinched. Could it be…? He stumbled forwards trying to reach the Flame Emperor.
He stepped backwards. "We will cross paths again." He said very calmly looking down at Byleth, whose legs gave out and kneeled before him. With another flash of light, he too disappeared.
"Professor!" He heard Lindhardt and Dorothea shout. He heard footsteps behind him, but his attention was solely on the spot where the Flame Emperor was standing a few seconds ago.
Flashback
He stood there pondering on what he had just learned. Hubert's threat, or maybe warning, had left him thinking. He was so deep in thought, that he did not hear her approach him. He was startled to feel a small hand on his shoulder.
He grabbed it and turned around quickly on instinct. He made himself stop before hitting her on the stomach. Edelgard did not look surprised by his actions. "Professor, is everything alright?" She asked him worriedly. "You were so deep in thought." She raised her other hand to move aside a strand of hair out of his eyes.
He sighed at the feeling of her fingertips on his skin. "I am sorry, Edelgard." He shook his head releasing her other hand. "What is wrong?" She asked him. "I… I was ordered here about an hour ago." He told her. "Your loyal servant saw to that." He said turning around to look at the village below them.
"Hubert?" She asked frowning. "I assume he was here?" She asked carefully. "Yes." He answered. "What did he want?" She asked still frowning leaning on the railway beside him. "I will tell you after we talked." He said turning to look at her.
She looked at him raising an eyebrow. "Fair enough. What did you want to talk about?" She asked sighing. "I am done being left in the dark." He said after a moment of pause. "What are you planning?" He asked directly.
"I was hoping to conduct this conversation under other circumstances…" She said shaking her head. There was something in her voice he could not put his finger on. Was she afraid of his reaction?
She paused for a long while. Byleth shook his head. "I will give you a starting point." He said to her, pressing further. "Hubert said that there are powerful enemies that work in the shadows." She sighed once more. "They call themselves 'Those Who Slither in the Dark'. They are a group of radicals whose sole goal is to eliminate the Church and seize power themselves." She said starring at the distance.
"They have opted to work in the shadows, often using the appearances of fallen Lords and other advisors to gain political influence and poison the minds of those in power." She continued.
"You mean to say that they are not human?" He asked trying to process the information. "Some of them are shapeshifters. Their true identities hidden from view." She explained. "They are responsible for rebellions, terrible experiments and tragedies like the one in Duscur." She continued her face growing angry.
"Experiments? Are they responsible for…?" He dared not finish the question. "Yes, they are responsible for the experiments conducted on Lysithea, me and countless others." She sighed angrily. Byleth felt his blood boil.
"They believe me to be their puppet. Their instrument to seize power and end the Church." She spat in disgust. "They are your allies?!" Byleth was getting angry. "Yes and no." She told him decisively. "They believe it for now. But in reality, I am playing a long game of strategy." She said looking down. "There is nothing I desire as much as to tear them down one by one."
Byleth breathed in and out for a few moments to calm himself. "What is your plan?" He asked again. "Professor, I envision a future, where commoners and nobles work together. Where the character of a person is the deciding point whether he or she can rule or command. Fódlan is currently ruled by the Crest system that the Church imposed one thousand years ago." She started.
"A system that has discarded many good men and women, just because they wore no Crest at all. Even among nobles. It is ridiculous." She said shacking her head. Miklan's rebellion came to his mind. "In order to achieve that, I need to break the old system and start a new one."
"Many will oppose." He said thinking on what she said. "Yes, but I am ready to walk that bloody path." He looked at her, she seemed determined. "The path is dangerous, I know it. And it will take a lot of time and a lot of lives."
"But it is my believe, that only then, I can create a just Fódlan for all." She concluded. "Not just the Empire?" He asked her carefully. "Unfortunately, no. The root of the problem is the system the Church imposed, and it has branched into the other nations as well."
"So, that is why 'Those Who Slither in the Dark' think you an ally." He said connecting the dots. "You have a common enemy." He said shaking his head. She nodded. "I understand Hubert's concern now." Byleth said to her.
"What do you mean." She asked him looking at him in the eyes. "Your allies want my head. Because of your infatuation with me." He said sadly. "What?" She raised her voice bewildered. There was a long pause.
In that time Byleth made a decision. "It would be better for us to end this." He motioned between them with his hand. He saw confusion on her face.
"I want your dream to come true, no matter how bloody the path might be." This was the hardest thing he ever had to do. His un-beating heart was breaking into thousand pieces. "I will help you to the best of my ability. But for the moment it is too much a risk for you to be together with me."
Her reaction was of bewilderment. "No… Don't do this." She said to him, tears falling down her cheeks. "I need you." She said to him. "And you have me. But you are not safe being with me." He said sadly. A tear was rolling down his own cheek.
"I love you, but it is not safe for you." Byleth said turning to leave. Her hand grabbed his, stopping him. Words were failing her. "Maybe one day, we will be able to love each other carefree." He smiled at her sadly. A hidden promise he hoped she would understand.
He released his hand from hers and left the tower. "It is I who will reforge the world. For us." She sobbed. It was the last thing he heard her say before exiting the balcony.
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